Plein air: Local artists gather outdoors, paint together

Eleanor McArver of the Coastal Carolina Plein Air Painters works on a painting of the historic Trader Store on July 1 in Havelock. Nine of the group’s members came out to paint the building during one of their weekly sessions.

Ken Buday/Halifax Media Services

By Ken Buday, Halifax Media Services

Published: Monday, July 21, 2014 at 04:29 PM.

HAVELOCK | The group approached the building from all angles, armed with paint brushes and easels.

About 10 members of the Coastal Carolina Plein Air Painters came to Havelock recently to paint the historic Trader Store on Miller Boulevard.

“This is one of the historic things we do,” said Eleanor McArver, one of the members of the group. “We also do landscapes and seascapes. We like to try to vary it.”

Members of the group get together on Tuesday mornings at one location and spend a couple of hours painting. They’ve taken trips to Beaufort, painted along Brices Creek at Creekside Park in New Bern and visited the Croatan National Forest. On Aug. 9, the group is planning a nocturnal painting event in downtown Swansboro, with the near full-moon rising above the waterfront area.

On this particular day in Havelock, they lined opposite sides of Miller Boulevard, some detailing particular aspects of the store while others painted a broader image.

“We all have different styles,” said McArver, who is from Morehead City. “Three of us do Cape Cod styles. Others have different styles, and at the end of the day, we critique each other.”

McArver said about 40 people from Craven, Carteret and Pamlico counties make up the group, with around 10 showing up at any particular painting event. The group paints only outdoor scenes, which can create its own problems.

HAVELOCK | The group approached the building from all angles, armed with paint brushes and easels.

About 10 members of the Coastal Carolina Plein Air Painters came to Havelock recently to paint the historic Trader Store on Miller Boulevard.

“This is one of the historic things we do,” said Eleanor McArver, one of the members of the group. “We also do landscapes and seascapes. We like to try to vary it.”

Members of the group get together on Tuesday mornings at one location and spend a couple of hours painting. They’ve taken trips to Beaufort, painted along Brices Creek at Creekside Park in New Bern and visited the Croatan National Forest. On Aug. 9, the group is planning a nocturnal painting event in downtown Swansboro, with the near full-moon rising above the waterfront area.

On this particular day in Havelock, they lined opposite sides of Miller Boulevard, some detailing particular aspects of the store while others painted a broader image.

“We all have different styles,” said McArver, who is from Morehead City. “Three of us do Cape Cod styles. Others have different styles, and at the end of the day, we critique each other.”

McArver said about 40 people from Craven, Carteret and Pamlico counties make up the group, with around 10 showing up at any particular painting event. The group paints only outdoor scenes, which can create its own problems.

“We have to watch out for the elements, bugs, fire ants, the weather,” McArver said. “We’ll get those sudden rain storms. We’re always looking toward the sky.”

On this particular day, a light breeze held morning temperatures in the middle 80s, producing some discomfort but not unbearable heat. Puffy clouds would occasionally block the sun.

“The important thing is the light,” McArver said of outdoor painting. “We’re trying to capture the light and the shadows. We’re looking at how light affects the subject matter.”

For Susan Cheatham of Arapahoe, she enjoys sharing the opportunity to paint with other artists.

“Most of us have our own galleries, but we like to meet other artists too,” she said.

John Hanley, of New Bern, said the outdoor painting trips are enjoyable.

“It’s fun,” he said, stepping back away from his painting to take in the entire building before getting back to work on the details of his creation. “It’s a stress relief. It’s a nice day and you have nice people.”

The Coastal Carolina Plein Air Painters put on a show every two years in Morehead City. However, members stress that anyone is welcome to join the group, from the serious artist to the beginner who just enjoys painting.

More information is available on the group’s Facebook page or by emailing McArver at em.mcarver@gmail.com.